limon heritage museum

If you are interested in American History, including the old west and life on the plains, this is a museum you need to stop in and see. Plan about an hour to 1.5 hours to visit with the folks at the museum and see the displays. Definitely worth the stop.

I did not expect such a small town to have such a wonderful heritage museum. It, the railroad cars, and other exhibits were really quite impressive for such a small place. History buffs would enjoy the place, as would train buffs.

This Museum is essentially two museums in one. It is, after all, the Limon Historical Museum AND Railroad Park! First, you have the Limon Regional Museum which focuses on the history of Limon, CO (and the surrounding ranch lands). Although this museum is small, it packs a solid punch! The work done by the volunteers is truly first rate and you get a good feel for Limon at the turn of the 1900s and thru the 1990s (the town celebrated its centennial in 2009). The coverage of local history is quite detailed, including the well done biographies of local prominent families and ranchers. Each exhibit focused on an aspect of local history and told a unique story. Whether the display was about Limon's 28 gas stations of days gone by, or about the Limon weather station that operated right up until the early 90s, it was good to see local history so well preserved and cared for. Then, the second part of the museum is located in the former Chicago & Rock Island RR Depot. A nice display of train cars (great snowplow, great Union Pacific caboose!) and a well laid out set of displays in the depot itself. The Indian Collection (donated by the local druggist and his family) is truly first-rate.....something I would expect to see in Denver or Omaha, not in the tiny burg of Limon!) I would definitely recommend this stop for anyone interested in trains, local plains history, or Indian heritage. On the grounds is also an impressive collection of western saddles (1870s thru 1940) and a former 1 Room schoolhouse.

If you land in Limon for some reason, of which there are few, this museum, along with the Rail Station, is a must see. You can see the pride and love that went into setting this facility up. Has very good depiction of local history and the development of the rail system across the country. It is easy to find as Limon is a long narrow town, If it isn't on Main St. it's one block over!

We drove through Limon and really tried hard to find the museum, but the museum website, GPS, and google directions all take you to the opposite end of town where there is an empty field. I suggest calling first!

Although I lived in the Washington, D.C. metro area for over 30 years, and got used to one of the great museum systems in the world -- the Smithsonian, I like visiting small town museums which are filled with local memorabilia. And while I can't say that there's any special reason to visit Limon (unless you'll be staying in the state prison there!), when you pass through on I-70, you might want to stop off and see one of the finest small-town museums I've yet to discover! The museum is located at 899 1st Street, just behind Town Hall. You can begin at the nicely restored depot. The main waiting room is as it was when trains of the Union Pacific and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad stopped here (and by the way, the tracks on both sides of the depot are still used!). In the baggage area of the station, displays will tell you part of Limon's story, including that of the famous train wreck that occurred right at the station! There's another building full of well-done displays a short walk away, as well as an old school and a box car full of western paraphernalia. And, outside are old farm utensils, a gasoline tanker, a caboose, a railway dining car (fully restored), and other rail cars. The people here are friendly and welcoming, and I spent nearly two hours browsing. Not for everyone, but if you like exploring local museums, this is one of the very best!